Beyond the Ivory Tower: Labor Market Returns to Greek Membership

Abstract

Using a nationally representative sample of college graduates, we estimate the post-collegiate labor market effects of fraternity and sorority membership during undergraduate tenure. We find that, after controlling for relevant factors, former sorority members’ labor market outcomes are indistinguishable from those of other female college graduates. Former fraternity membership, however, appears to result in an increased likelihood of self-employment of about 10 percentage points and a sizable wage premium. Former fraternity members are indistinguishable from other male college graduates in terms of labor market status, historical unemployment, subjective beliefs of personal job security, job satisfaction, and satisfaction with earnings.